AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Marvelettes

Artist:The Marvelettes

Song:Please Mr. Postman

Album:Deliver: The Singles 1961-1971

The Marvelettes topped the charts with the 1961 single Please Mr. Postman. This was also Motown's very first number one hit. So it's unfortunate that The Marvelettes became an afterthought once The Supremes became popular. But that's because Motown owner Berry Gordy had a thing for Diana Ross. Everyone else got the leftovers. Well, Gordy was the boss. He could do what he wanted. The Marvelettes were formed in 1960 at Inkster High School in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, MI by Gladys Horton. She formed the group with fellow glee club members Katherine Anderson, Geoergeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart and high school graduate Georgia Dobbins. They called themselves The Marvels. And after finishing fourth in a local talent show, they auditioned for Motown. After the first audition for Brian Holland and Robert Bateman, they auditioned for Gordy and Smokey Robinson. Gordy asked them to come up with a song. Georgia contacted local songwriter William Garrett. He wrote a blues song called Please Mr. Postman. He told Georgia she could use the song as long as he got credit if it was a hit. She turned it into a song appropriate for teens. Then Georgia left the group under pressure from her father. That left Gladys in charge and Wanda Young was brought in to replace Georgia. They signed with Motown but Gordy changed the group name to The Marvelettes so people would know they are a girl group. Holland, Bateman and Motown songwriter Freddie Morgan reworked Please Mr. Postman. Holland and Bateman produced the record and it topped the charts. As I said, this was Motown's first number one single. The Marvelettes had mixed success after that. The 1962 single Playboy was a top ten hit. But they weren't all that successful other than that. Plus they were always on tour doing The Motortown Revue. Juanita Cowart left in 1963 and Georgeanna Tillman left in 1964. So now they are down to a trio. In 1965, The Marvelettes made a comeback with the top ten hit Don't Mess with Bill written and produced by Smokey Robinson. That was their final hit and The Marvelettes disbanded in 1970. This 2CD budget comp has all their singles. Juanita Cowart is the only surviving member of The Marvelettes. Georgeanna Tillman died in 1980. Gladys Horton died in 2011. Georgia Dobbins died in 2020. Wanda Young died in 2021. Katherine Anderson died in 2023. Here's The Marvelettes performing Please Mr. Postman.